A Rider Kick in Marvel ch 135

Kiva looked down at the defeated Magneto, the countdown's ominous ticking echoing through the hangar. With only a minute left before Asteroid M's self-destruction, Kiva knew they had to escape immediately.

Gripping Magneto's arm, Kiva hoisted the master of magnetism to his feet. "We need to get out of here, Magneto," Kiva urged, his voice tinged with urgency. "This entire place is going to blow."

Magneto, his expression pained but resolute, nodded reluctantly. "Then so be it," he muttered. "I will not abandon my mission, Kamen Rider."

Kiva knew there was no time to argue. Tightening his hold on Magneto, he began guiding the wounded villain through the rapidly deteriorating corridors of Asteroid M. Flames licked at the walls, and explosions rocked the structure, debris raining down around them.

As they navigated the perilous hallways, Kiva kept a vigilant eye on the countdown, his heart racing against the relentless ticking. They had to reach the hangar and find a way off the doomed fortress before it was too late.

Magneto stumbled beside Kiva, his movements hampered by the injuries sustained during their battle. Kiva adjusted his grip, steadying the older man as they pressed onward.

Suddenly, a massive explosion erupted nearby, the shockwave sending Kiva and Magneto tumbling to the ground. Kiva shielded Magneto, his armored form taking the brunt of the impact.

Coughing through the thick smoke, Kiva helped Magneto back to his feet. "We need to move, now!" he shouted, his voice barely audible over the roar of the crumbling structure.

Magneto nodded, his expression grim. Together, they resumed their desperate sprint through the collapsing corridors, the countdown continuing its relentless march towards zero.

As they neared the hangar, Kiva could see the flickering lights of the escape pods. But the path was blocked by a wall of flames, the intense heat radiating outward.

Kiva's mind raced, searching for a way to get them to safety. Glancing at the countdown, he knew they had mere seconds left.

Without hesitation, Kiva gathered Magneto in his arms and leapt through the wall of fire, his enhanced speed and agility allowing them to pass unharmed. They tumbled into the hangar, the escape pods just within reach.

Kiva wasted no time, ushering Magneto towards the nearest pod. The master of magnetism paused, his expression conflicted.

"Go, Magneto!" Kiva urged, his voice strained. "There's no time left!"

Magneto's gaze met Kiva's, a silent understanding passing between them. With a nod, he stepped into the pod, the hatch sealing shut behind him.

Kiva watched as the pod launched, his heart pounding in his chest. Turning, he sprinted towards the last remaining escape vessel, determined to make it off Asteroid M before the final detonation.

As Kiva reached the pod, the countdown reached its final seconds, the structure around him shaking with the force of the impending explosion. Kiva leapt inside, the hatch closing just as a deafening blast rocked the hangar.

The escape pod rocketed away from the disintegrating Asteroid M, Kiva watching through the viewport as the once-formidable fortress was consumed by a brilliant, fiery explosion.

Kiva watched through the viewport as the once-mighty Asteroid M was consumed by a violent explosion. A deep sigh of relief escaped him, grateful that he had managed to escape the doomed fortress in time.

As the escape pod hurtled through the void of space, Kiva's gaze fixed on the familiar sight of Castle Doran, the ancient, dragon-like fortress that had been a constant presence in his life. The colossal structure loomed closer, its immense presence filling the viewport.

Kiva tensed as Castle Doran opened its cavernous maw, swallowing the escape pod whole. The pod was enveloped in darkness before emerging within the castle's interior, coming to a gentle rest.

The hatch of the pod opened, and Kiva stepped out, his armored form dissolving in a flash of light as he canceled his transformation.

Ace strode down the castle's grand halls, his gaze sweeping across the familiar surroundings. Suddenly, a blur of green rushed towards him, and before he could react, Lorna had enveloped him in a tight embrace.

"Ace! I'm so glad you're alright," Lorna exclaimed, her voice laced with relief as she pulled back to examine him. "Were you hurt?"

Ace offered her a reassuring smile. "I'm fine, Lorna. Just a little shaken, that's all." He placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, the warmth of her presence calming his nerves after the harrowing escape from Asteroid M.

Lorna's expression shifted from relief to concern as Ace's words registered. "My Father?" she asked, her brow furrowing. "What happened to him?"

Ace met her gaze steadily. "I made sure he got to an escape pod before the base exploded. He should be safe." A flicker of unease passed across his features, but he offered Lorna a reassuring smile.

Lorna visibly relaxed, her shoulders slumping as the tension left her body. "Thank goodness," she murmured, her green eyes softening. "I'm glad he made it out." A small sigh of relief escaped her lips, and she squeezed Ace's arm affectionately.

Ace and Lorna heard a distinct cough, drawing their attention towards the doorway. There stood Rogue, her arms crossed and her brow furrowed in a clear display of annoyance.

Lorna, still clinging to Ace, felt the tension in the air and slowly released her grip, stepping back to give the couple some space. Rogue's gaze remained fixed on Ace, her emerald eyes narrowing as she took in the scene before her.

"Ah, Rogue," Ace said, his voice betraying a hint of unease. "I, uh, didn't see you there."

Rogue took a step forward, her movements fluid and deliberate. "Apparently not," she replied, her tone laced with a subtle edge. Her eyes flickered to Lorna, who shifted uncomfortably under the scrutiny.

Rogue wrapped her arms around Ace's neck and pulled him into a deep, affectionate kiss. Lorna's eyes widened in surprise, and a hint of jealousy flickered across her features as she watched the intimate moment unfold before her.

Rogue's kiss was passionate and possessive, leaving no doubt in Lorna's mind about the nature of Ace's relationship with the X-Men member. When Rogue finally released Ace, she turned her gaze towards Lorna, her emerald eyes conveying a silent, yet unmistakable message.

"Ace belongs to me," Her message left no room for argument. The subtle challenge in her words was not lost on Lorna, who felt a pang of disappointment and a twinge of resentment at the blatant display of ownership.

Ace could see an invisible spark of hostility between Rogue and Lorna. He felt there was going to be a fight between the two. Ace tries to calm down Rogue and Lorna and tries to make them be friendly toward each other.

Ace raised his hands in a placating gesture, stepping between the two women. "Now, now, let's all just take a deep breath here," he said, his voice calm and measured.

Rogue's gaze remained fixed on Lorna, her body tense and ready to pounce. Lorna, in turn, straightened her posture, her green eyes narrowed as she met Rogue's challenging stare.

"Rogue, Lorna," Ace continued, his tone gentle but firm. "There's no need for this. We've all been through a lot, and we should be grateful that we made it out of there in one piece."

Rogue's grip on Ace's arm tightened, and Lorna's hands clenched into fists at her sides. Ace could feel the tension in the air, thick and palpable.

Before the situation could escalate, the X-Men arrived in Castle Doran, relieved to find Ace safe after his harrowing escape from Asteroid M.

Scott Summers, also known as Cyclops, strode forward, his expression etched with concern. "Ace, are you alright?" he asked, his gaze sweeping over the young man. "We were worried when we lost contact with you."

Beside him, Ororo Munroe, the regal Storm, placed a reassuring hand on Ace's shoulder. "It's good to see you in one piece," she said, her voice calm and soothing. "We feared the worst when Asteroid M exploded."

Jean Grey, her brow furrowed in worry, approached Ace. "We're just glad you made it out safely," she said, her emerald eyes filled with empathy. "We couldn't bear the thought of losing you."

Kitty Pryde, her youthful features alight with relief, offered Ace a warm smile. "Yeah, don't ever do that again, okay?" she teased, her tone light despite the gravity of the situation.

Logan, also known as Wolverine, gruffly cleared his throat, drawing Ace's attention. "Good to have you back, kid," he said, his gruff demeanor betraying a hint of fondness. "You had us worried for a minute there."

Ace felt a surge of gratitude towards the X-Men, their presence a comforting reminder of the support he had found in this world.

Ace's gaze swept across the gathered X-Men, a silent question forming on his lips. "Where's Senator Kelly?" he asked, his brow furrowed with concern.

Scott Summers, his expression weary, replied, "He's resting. The ordeal was too much for him, and he passed out from exhaustion." The leader of the X-Men placed a reassuring hand on Ace's shoulder. "We're just glad you both made it out of there in one piece."

Ace nodded, the relief evident on his face. The confrontation with Rogue and Lorna seemed to have been momentarily forgotten as he focused on the well-being of the others. With the X-Men gathered around him, Ace felt a sense of security and camaraderie that had become a familiar comfort in this new world.